Technology

APPEC 2026: Digitalisation in bunkering not merely a ‘paper-to-screen’ swap, states panellists

Panel members discuss how digitalising bunkering enhances transparency and trust, though human relationships and data governance remain essential for success.

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28 minutes ago

September 14, 2026

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Representatives across the marine fuels supply chain consisting of Singapore bunker supplier Hong Lam Marine, shipowner and operator Ocean Network Express (ONE), bunker buyer Seascale Energy and mass flow meter (MFM) conformity assessment body Metcore International met at APPEC 2026 on Thursday (10 September) to examine the digitisation of bunkering.

The panel Addressing the Transition into Digital Bunker in APAC moderated by Saunak Rai, Member Marine Fuels Committee, Singapore Shipping Association, agreed bunkering’s digitalisation is not merely a paper-to-screen swap and must deliver transparency and trust.

They concluded technology is pivotal, but human relationships and judgement remain indispensable.

The following points were raised by panel members during discussion:

Caroline Yang, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Lam Marine, believed digitalisation in bunkering is a fundamental transformation, not merely a “paper-to-screen” shift.

She highlighted Singapore’s mandatory MFM system as a benchmark for success, noting its seven-year development – involving industry collaboration and strict enforcement – established a trusted, independent method for quantity measurement that levelled the playing field.

Building on the above, she explained electronic bunker delivery notes (eBDNs) extend this trust to documentation by ensuring authenticity, verification, and auditability.

She credited the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) for extensive industry consultation, emphasising success relies on stringent platform approval criteria, particularly regarding cybersecurity and controlled stakeholder access.

Addressing the commercial impact, Ms Yang clarified digitalisation does not directly increase revenue for bunker craft operators; in fact, it initially raised costs due to verification and testing requirements.

However, digitalisation significantly enhanced operational efficiency, saving approximately 2 to 3 hours per bunkering operation and reducing quantity disputes. She advocated for a “digital corridor” between ports to improve interoperability.

Looking ahead, Ms Yang predicted paper BDNs will be obsolete in Singapore within 36 months, though emphasising manual soundings must remain as a necessary fallback.

Richard Ho, Vice President, Fuel, ONE, emphasised the “GIGO” (Garbage In, Garbage Out) principle, asserting the value of digitalisation depended entirely on data integrity and robust regulatory frameworks.

Managing high volumes of bunkering transactions annually, Mr Ho pointed out ONE relies on established internal verification processes for bunker purchases. While he views eBDNs as a valuable, authoritative source for transparency, he notes the transition requires careful validation before automated verification can replace human checks.

Mr Ho highlighted the modern marine fuel market has been increasingly complex due to the introduction of new bunker fuel types, geopolitical instability, and port congestion.

Consequently, he argued that while digital tools enhance efficiency and enable potential auto-payment systems, bunker buyers must still actively balance leveraging scale with maintaining flexible, resilient supply partnerships.

Ultimately, he believed technology should support, rather than replace, the critical human oversight required to manage bunker fuel procurements effectively.

Kasper Sorensen, Head of Marine Fuels Sourcing, East, Seascale Energy, represents a major marine fuel procurement consolidator for more than 50 shipowners/operators.

He championed transparency, noting Singapore’s policed MFM system remains the global gold standard. To replicate this success, he helped launch a voluntary framework in Rotterdam, arguing that buyer-side consolidation is essential to match the consolidated seller market and drive best practices.

Mr Sorensen pointed out recent geopolitical instability has fundamentally shifted industry priorities from bunker prices alone to supply security and resilience.

He advocated for the “three R’s” – Risk, Resilience, and Relationships – as the framework for navigating modern challenges.

“We might buy bunkers for more than 3,000 vessels, but the most important ship is friendship,” he stated.

Moving forward, Mr Sorensen believed while digital tools are vital, true strength lies in collaborative partnerships, which are proven and solidified only when crises occur.

Daryl Lim, Quality Manager, Metcore International, provided the technical perspective on bunkering digitalisation, drawing on his experience in legal metrology and conformity assessment of marine fuel measurement systems.

He highlighted that MFM technology forms the foundation for generating reliable, traceable, and independently verifiable measurement data. While eBDNs create an efficient pathway for transmitting information among stakeholders, Mr Lim noted that data consistency, standardisation, and governance remain key areas requiring continued industry focus.

He emphasised that confidence in digitalisation depends not only on the accuracy of the measurement system, but also on the integrity and traceability of data throughout the entire digital value chain. Consistent data structures, verification mechanisms, and secure governance frameworks are therefore essential to maintaining trust among stakeholders.

Furthermore, he noted that interoperability between digital platforms will be critical to enabling seamless data exchange, reducing operational risks, and supporting a more transparent and verifiable bunkering ecosystem.

Looking ahead, Mr Lim expects the industry to progressively transition towards greater automation in validation and verification processes, supported by trusted measurement technologies, standardised digital frameworks, and robust conformity assessment practices.

Photo credit: S&P Global
Published: 14 September 2026

Related Topics:Features Technology - Digital platform Technology - Mass flowmeter

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